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Monday, January 23, 2017

Masai Self Portraits

First Graders began the year by discussing self portraits. We viewed portraits and read the book The Many Faces of the Face to get an idea of how artists create pictures of people. Students were allowed to choose a piece of construction paper they felt best described their skin color to begin. I find most students gravitate toward the lighter colors, so we read the book All the Colors of the Earth, which talks about all the beautiful colors skin can be. The face shapes were folded in half so students could consider symmetry and balance when drawing their face. After all the features were drawn we turned our attention to our hair. Students learned different techniques of rolling, curling and folding paper to collage pieces for their hair. Once the face was complete we turned our attention to Africa and the Masai tribe.The Masai are often identified by their wide collar necklaces.Students discovered that they could actually tell a lot about these people just by studying their jewelry.A married Masai woman gets more necklaces as she gets wealthier, becomes more important, and grows older.The shapes and patterns might tell a woman’s age, or if she has children.The class also learned that the colors they use represent different things as well. Each student designed their own Masai necklace using patterns of repeating shapes and colors. We read another book entitled The Masai and Me. So students could compare how their lives are different from children in this tribe.

About Me

I am the elementary art teacher at the Garfield School- teaching grades pre-K-5. I graduated from Tufts/The School of the Museum of Fine Arts with a BA in Anthropology and BFA in Fine Art. I also received my Masters from the same schools! I love art and I'm excited to share what I know with my students!!

Check out some art for FREE!!

Most museum host a free night -so there's no excuse not to go and check out some great art!!!!

*The Musum of Fine Arts in Boston is free every Wednesday after 4pm and they are open until 9:45!

*The Institute of Contemporary Art is free every Thursday from 5-9pm. It is also FREE for families (up to 2 adults accompanied by children 12 and under) on the last Saturday of each month with the exception of December.In addition children under 17 are always free!

*The Peabody Essex Museum offers free admission to children 16 and under

*The Gardner museum doesn't offer a free night but they do offer some interesting discounts...check out their page at gardnermuseum.org - look under planning a visit for discount options- including free admission for life if your name is Isabella!

*The Decordova is a great museum with an amazing outdoor sculpture garden--perfect for a visit in the warmer months. Active Duty Military Personnel and their families receive free admission and they offer Free First Wednesdays: Non-group visitors receive free admission on the first Wednesday of the month.